Automotive recycling families tell their student stories to the ARA Scholarship Foundation.
By Kelly Badillo
There is no better way to show the importance of any scholarship program than to hear directly from the families whose children received one. Here are their stories of families of the industry on how their student was helped by the ARA Scholarship Foundation.
This year, I’m excited the ARA has expanded the eligibility for who can enroll and, also, a new scholarship program for part-time students, including employees looking to improve or expand their skills.
Doug Reinert
Doug Reinert
Chuck’s Auto Parts Solution & Chair of the ARA Scholarship Foundation
Why is it important to offer this ARA benefit?
Our family business is successful because of the amazing team we have. It is important to us to provide great benefits to them and their family.
The ARA Scholarship Foundation program allows our team members with children seeking higher education, including technical school, the opportunity to obtain between four to eight thousand dollars towards their personal success. This year, I’m excited the ARA has expanded the eligibility for who can enroll and, also, a new scholarship program for part-time students that includes our employees looking to improve or expand their skills.
It’s great to see so many people reach into their pockets, especially during the ARA convention, to support such a great cause. Part of their happiness could be the chance to win a raffle or action item, but the majority of their enthusiasm is realizing they most likely won’t win, but knowing they are truly supporting families of this great industry.
How many of your employees’ children received scholarships?
We are proud that five of our team members children have received scholarships helping them pursue careers in teaching, social service, nursing, and finance.
One student had interest in the field of psychology and turned out truly to be her passion. She since finished her master’s degree and is now accepted into a doctorate program all while working full time to pursue her a career as a psychologist.
Jim Steinbeck
Stoystown Auto Wreckers
What is your student’s success story?
Over the past six years, ARA has provided my two daughters and son with a total of $9,000 in scholarships. This has allowed them to pursue furthering their education while limiting the amount of out-of-pocket expenses.
Abigail and Jacob both left undergraduate with a very limited amount of student loan debt which will assist them greatly as they pursue advanced degrees in Osteopathic Medicine. Abigail is currently a second-year medical student and Jacob is enrolled in LECOM (Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine) class of 2028.
How did this help your student?
The scholarship helped pay for tuition, room and board, and general living expenses. Without the funds, each would have additional debt to pay back after completion of their degrees. I believe without these funds the progression of their education may have ceased after undergraduate completion. It allowed them to continue their education.
Why is this important as a benefit?
This is an incredible fringe benefit of the industry membership in ARA. I am humbled by the generosity of the owners that contribute to make the Scholarship Foundation a continued success. I’ve worked in several industries throughout my career, and I don’t believe any of these industries offered such a rich foundation for the future success of the children of employees.
Justin Fisk
Playground PAR
Why is this important as a benefit?
As someone with a degree that had no scholarships, I find it great that in our industry that there are programs to help offset educational costs. I think that it helps to show the younger generation that ARA supports the future of the individual and the industry.
Right now, it means more to me that ARA is offering it. When we have gone over this with employees, we always talk about it being an ARA program and that by working for us, being an ARA member, they can take advantage of the program. It really is easy to create a benefit for your employees that has real value.
I think that this is an important step for the future of our industry. I think it helps guide younger generations that might be looking to other careers that this industry has their back.
How did this help your student?
A little bit of everything, tuition is the big one, though. Even with in-state tuition and working throughout high school, the savings will never be enough for this generation.
Tricia Gee
Vander Haag’s, Inc.
Why is this important as a benefit?
I’m on my third child to benefit from this. Two of them have been successful college graduates. One has her Doctorate and the other her BSN in nursing. This benefit has definitely lowered their student loan debt. So thankful for this opportunity.
Jackie Pangborn
JC Auto & Truck Parts
Why is this important as a benefit?
My son, Everett Pangborn, was a recipient of the ARA scholarship. He has been able to attend State Tech in Linn, MO and will graduate in May. He is going into Precision Machining Technology and has been offered a position at one of our local companies that he did an internship with this summer. The scholarship allowed him to further his education as well as attain a position with a company in our home-town. Without the scholarship, he may not have been able to accomplish this.
How did this help your student?
The scholarship assisted with tuition for all four semesters.
What does it mean for your employer to offer this?
For JC Auto & Truck Parts, Inc., this scholarship allowed a high school graduate to go to a technical school, learn a valued skill, and return to his hometown to start his life – where several generations of his family have been born and raised. Being a small rural town (around a population of 2,500) it is important that we are able to get the youth back with their knowledge and dedication to their community at wages that will allow them to provide for a future family if they choose.
As a parent, I am very grateful for the opportunity for him to receive the scholarship. It alleviated some of the burden of having excess debt to pay upon his graduation.
Nathan Munns
Spalding Auto Parts
Why is this important as a benefit?
As a parent of two children benefiting from the ARA Scholarship over the last several years, our entire family is grateful. We’re a family that believes in establishing goals and wholeheartedly giving the effort required to cross the finish line. Both of our children wished to pursue college and there were many discussions over their teenage years about what that would look like and what our expectations were. Most important to us was that our daughters gave their best efforts for good grades in high school, they would pursue college scholarship opportunities, and work part time throughout high school and college to reduce college debt as much as possible.
How did this help your student?
It can be tough out there for young adults – juggling school and work and relationships and adulthood. Finding scholarship opportunities is tough too, it often feels like a lottery or gambling and hoping their number gets pulled. On the other hand, the ARA Scholarship is specifically targeted to children with parents who work for automotive recyclers.
I’ve always felt the automotive recycling industry is representative of our family values – work hard, provide a good service, gain knowledge and technology, and take care of the world and others. My employer, Spalding Auto Parts, offered this opportunity for the ARA Scholarship and it felt like a tailored fit with less of the lottery feel the larger or well-known scholarships have.
Luckily that turned out to be true for us when both our children were awarded this scholarship. From their perspective, they finally landed a scholarship and were validated that hard work pays off and somebody (other than their parents!) believes in their ability to succeed.
What does it mean for your employer to offer this?
Our eldest daughter is finishing up a Master of Professional Accounting next month! She’s been working part time as a Staff Accountant at a local manufacturer for a few years and intends to pursue her CPA after graduation. Through her own efforts and the support of others like the ARA, she was able to keep debt minimal and I have no doubt she’ll be successful in supporting herself, sharing her knowledge and experience with local businesses, and in turn supporting our entire community and economy. It takes a village to successfully launch young people into mature adulthood and ARA is part of our village. We’re grateful my employer and the ARA support our values and directly contributed to our family’s long-term success.
William Wolfswinkel
Vander Haag’s Inc.
It is great to work for a company that lives out their mission statement. The scholarships that are offered because of their association with the ARA are a great way to provide a better life for its employees, their families, and the communities. It is a benefit that can easily be taken for granted that is not offered by other employers and helps eliminate some of the financial burdens that higher education sometimes has.
Luann Laramee
Linder’s Inc.
Why is this important as a benefit?
As a parent, I want the best for my kids, but with the growing cost of living (and tuition price tags) it has been difficult to save enough for college. My oldest son has been an ARA Scholarship Award recipient the past two years. This, along with other scholarship awards, have been an invaluable tool to making college a reality for my him.
How did the scholarship help your student?
He used the scholarship money as an offset to student loans and along with family savings, he is now in his second year of college and doing great! I am so grateful that this opportunity is available to me as an employee of Linder’s Inc. It means a lot to know that my employer and the industry at large recognizes the importance of higher education and cares so much about the well-being of my family.
Nicole Blackmon
Grimes Auto Parts
Why is this important as a benefit?
This scholarship helped my daughter with her tuition and books. It was very much appreciated.
What does it mean for your employer to offer this?
This meant the world as an employee that companies such as ARA are willing to give back to the education of our children. Our future is in the hands of our young adults, and they need encouragement and I feel offering this scholarship each year is a perfect way for our students to feel empowered to succeed.
Kari Pingel
Vander Haag’s Inc.
Tell us about your student who received a scholarship?
My son, Isaac Pingel, is studying Agronomy/Agri-Business at Morningside University. He has made the Dean’s list each year while attending. He is also on the football team; he’s played since his freshman year. This past season the team players vote for their most valuable players in each position/offense/defense. He was selected Team MVP. Also awarded the Mustang Award, as an outstanding individual.
Some other awards he received this year – 1st Team All-Conference Defense for Linebacker, AFCA – 3rd team All American for linebacker, AP – 2nd team All American for linebacker, CSC Academic All-American maintain a 3.5GPA or higher and having success on the field. Daktronics Scholar-Athletes of 2023 for football. He was 3rd in the country of all NAIA colleges for solo tackle and 8th in the country for total tackles.
With the football team, he has been able to do a mission trip through their church each year. In 2022, they ventured to the Dominican Republic and helped locals with building projects. In 2023, they went to Cuba and did the same. This year in March they will travel to Uganda and help the people there with different projects. While in these different locations they visit churches and learn the ways of those worlds.
The scholarship has helped provide financial assistance. It is truly a blessing that my employer is part of the ARA organization and helps support these scholarships.
We are pretty proud of him! Thanks for providing the scholarship.
Jenny Zupp
Nordstrom’s Automotive
How did the scholarship help your student?
Nathanael was awarded an ARA scholarship. One of our son’s goals was to graduate trade school without any debt. He didn’t want to start in a career and have loan payments to pay as he earns money. He is studying to be an auto mechanic. He works at a local, “Tires, Tires, Tires,” to help supplement his tuition.
With the scholarships he received from the ARA, it made his goal a reality. He will graduate in May without any college debt. He is excited to be in the real world.
Why is this important as a benefit?
We didn’t know about this opportunity until it was shared in an employee meeting. There were other colleagues Rodney (my spouse) works with that had their kids receive a scholarship. We thought why not give it a try.
Thankfully, Nathanael received the scholarship for the last two years. It really made a huge difference on his finances, and made it so he didn’t need to accept any financial aid for school.
Rodney and I sure do appreciate the ARA for giving Nathanael a chance and making a generous contribution to his education. Thank you.
Tom Andrade
Everett’s Auto Parts
How did this help your student?
ARA provided two of my children with scholarships, Hannah and Benjamin. The ARA scholarships went directly to tuition. Both Hannah and Benjamin have graduated from their respective schools earning bachelor’s degrees.
Hannah graduated Cum Laude with a degree in Education. She became an educator and is currently in her second year of teaching in a Massachusetts public school system.
Benjamin graduated Summa Cum Laude with a double major in Finance and Economics. He is entering his graduate MBA program. Once completed with his Masters, Benjamin will become a fourth-generation auto recycler.
Susan Uken
Nordstrom’s Automotive
What is your student’s success story?
Cody graduated in the fall semester of 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in business and finance. We are so proud of him and can’t wait to see where he goes in life! The scholarship it took some of the pressure off coming up with some of the funds to pay for his books and some of his tuition.
What did it mean for your employer to offer this?
Since our son had worked for Shannon Nordstrom for one summer at Nordstroms Automotive, it felt more personal and was a wonderful opportunity for Cody and a bonus for me. I feel proud that Cody was given this opportunity through my workplace’s association with ARA. Thank you so much for your generosity!
Carlos Orellana
Spalding Auto Parts
What is your student’s success story?
Thanks to the help of the ARA Scholarship our daughter is on her third year of college working towards being a first-generation graduate and majoring in psychology.
How did this help your student?
The ARA scholarship has helped ease some of the financial burden of her tuition expenses and supplies.
Why is this important as a benefit?
Having our employer offer the ARA scholarship has been a godsend. It has helped tremendously with the financial struggles that comes with having a college student.
We would like to extend our gratitude to my employer Spalding Auto Parts and to the Automotive Recycling Association for allowing us this opportunity.
Jeff Helget
B & R Auto Wrecking
What is your student’s success story?
Funny enough, this scholarship process took our family into a deep discussion about the role that Professional Automotive Recyclers play and how impactful our efforts are towards sustainability and the good work we do for the environment. It was special for me as a parent to get to spend time impressing my teenage daughter how cool automotive recycling is!
How did this help your student?
The ARA scholarship has helped her remain focused on her education and first year experiences.
Why is this important as a benefit?
It’s something we as an organization talk about frequently. I think the fact that the ARA gives back in this fashion is enlightening to the next generation about what our industry does, and how much we care for one another.
The ARA Scholarship Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization of the Automotive Recyclers Association, promotes higher education through the awarding of scholarships based on scholastic achievement.
If your company is a Direct Member of ARA, you or your college or trade school eligible child or children can apply for the Educational Scholarship, funded by ARA members. All scholarship awards are based on academic excellence and are available to the following people seeking a post-high school education: 1) An employee’s child/children; 2) An owner’s child/children; or 3) An employee. Each year, the Foundation awards approximately $30,000 – $50,000 to deserving students.
Deadline for applications is March 15. New or renewing students can apply at https://www.a-r-a.org/ara-scholarship-program.html.
